Tuval-Minimal: Designed and Insulated – The New Generation of Belgian Profiles
At Tuval-Minimal, which specializes in the production of insulated steel windows, they explain the difference between triplex glass and insulated glass and how this is connected to Belgian steel windows
What is Triplex Laminated Glass?
The name 'triplex' is given to laminated glass because it consists of three layers – glass, a bonding and insulating material called PVB, and another glass layer. Laminated glass has replaced tempered glass as the standard. Laminated glass can also be ordered tempered when reinforcement isrequired. The bonding material, PVB, gives the glass strength, prevents shattering in the case of a break, and insulates against noise. The thicker the PVB, the stronger the glass and the better it is at providing acoustic insulation.
The disadvantage of laminated glass is its thermal insulation. The glass transmits both cold and heat, so it is not suitable for green construction. Windows with triplex glass are more susceptible to condensation in winter and are not suitable for very cold climates. Given the thermal limitations of glass and the increasing awareness of energy efficiency in construction, the use of this glass is decreasing. Laminated glass is suitable for interior partitions, where thermal insulation and radiation filtering are not as important. It is strong, thin and has good acoustic insulation properties.
What is insulated glass?
Insulated glass consists of two layers of glass separated by an air gap – the larger the gap, the better the acoustic and thermal insulation. Thermal insulation can be improved without increasing the air gap by injecting argon gas into the gap between the panes. To prevent the risk of shattering and to strengthen the glass, the layers of glass are sealed. Thanks to its improved thermal insulation properties and growing awareness of energy efficiency, new windows are manufactured with this glass. In European countries and the United States, the standard requires insulated glass in order to obtain a building permit or occupancy permit.
The quality of thermal insulation is measured by the U-Value. The lower the value, the better the glass is thermally insulated. Also, coating one of the glass layers with a layer called LOW-E improves its thermal insulation and radiation filtering properties, but also lets less light into the room. Glass considered to be high-quality optimally filters radiation but has the least impact on the transparency of visible light.
How is this glass connected to Belgian steel profiles?
Belgian steel windows were first produced industrially in 19th century in England. At that time, there was no insulated glass, and the traditional profile was designed to fit thin glass without any air gap. The Belgian profile common in Israel is slightly different from the historical version, but it was also designed to fit thin glass without an air gap. It is possible to glaze regular Belgian windows with insulated glass, but this requires compromising on a small air gap that does not allow for effective thermal insulation – and the result is not aesthetically pleasing.
What is the new generation of Belgian profiles?
The new systems are designed to make it possible to integrate glass with a significant air gap. This enables high-level thermal insulation. The profile itself is constructed of a layer of steel and a layer of insulating material in the middle, which serves as a thermal break and prevents the transfer of heat and cold. This offers all the design advantages of steel windows without compromising on insulation quality.
The writers are from Tuval-Minimal, a company specializing in the production of insulated steel windows. The company operates in the luxury market in Israel, and exports insulated steel windows to the US market. In cooperation with the Innovation Authority, the company is developing unique solutions for thermal break Belgian steel windows.
Tuval-Minimal
Phone: 09-8987492
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